Which dynastic dispute had the most significant impact on medieval Europe?

The dynastic dispute that had the most significant impact on medieval Europe was the Hundred Years' War.

The Hundred Years' War, a series of conflicts waged from 1337 to 1453, was a dynastic dispute between the House of Plantagenet, rulers of the Kingdom of England, and the House of Valois, rulers of the Kingdom of France, over the right to rule the Kingdom of France. This dispute had a profound impact on medieval Europe, shaping the political, social, and economic landscape of the continent.

The war began when Edward III of England claimed the French crown, challenging the legitimacy of Philip VI of France. This claim was based on Edward's lineage, as his mother was the sister of the last direct Capetian king of France. However, French law barred succession through the female line, leading to the ascension of Philip VI, a cousin of the last Capetian king. This dispute over succession ignited a war that would last over a century.

The Hundred Years' War had significant political implications for medieval Europe. It marked the end of feudal armies composed of knights and the beginning of professional armies. The war also saw the rise of strong national identities in both England and France. In England, the war contributed to the weakening of the monarchy and the strengthening of Parliament, setting the stage for the English Civil War in the 17th century. In France, the war ended with the affirmation of the Valois claim to the French throne, solidifying the power of the French monarchy.

The war also had profound social and economic impacts. The devastation caused by the war led to a sharp decline in population, particularly in France, due to the combination of warfare, famine, and disease. This decline in population led to labour shortages, which in turn led to social unrest and the rise of the peasant class. Economically, the war led to the ruin of many nobles, the rise of a money economy, and the decline of feudalism.

In conclusion, the Hundred Years' War, a dynastic dispute between the Plantagenets and the Valois, had a profound impact on medieval Europe, shaping its political, social, and economic landscape.